Share this Post

There are few musicians with as unique a voice as cellist, composer, and vocalist Abel Selaocoe… and there are even fewer concertos like Four Spirits.  Like much of his previous work, Selaocoe draws on his South African heritage heavily for inspiration, singing in Sotho and Zulu as he plays. It’s exciting, personal music throughout. An easy recommendation.

Weston Williams

Composer, cellist, and vocalist Able Selaocoe presents his genre-defying concerto Four Spirits, recorded live with the Aurora Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Collon. Commissioned by BBC Radio 3, Seattle Symphony and PhilZuid, Four Spirits reframes the concerto format through a rich tapestry of musical influences rooted in Selaocoe’s South African heritage. Singing in Sotho and Zulu, he interweaves ancestral melodies, improvisation, and rhythmic cello techniques in a deeply personal narrative.

Similar Releases

  • Gaïa
    Gautier Capuçon, Frank Braley, Olivia Belli, Capucelli Ensemble
  • Hymns of BantuAbel Selaocoe, in a vibrant blue suit and green shirt, is immersed in music as he plays the cello with eyes closed
    Hymns of Bantu
    Abel Selaocoe, Manchester Collective
  • Alma y Fuego
    Pasión Vega, Javier Perianes, Gustavo Dudamel, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra
  • Mel Bonis: Orchestral Works
    Elizabeth Watts, Rumon Gamba, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
  • Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 and Moscow, Cheryomushki
    Philharmonia Orchestra, Santtu-Matias Rouvali
  • Copland: Symphony No. 3 – Walker: Sinfonia No. 5, “Visions”
    London Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Pappano